by Gerri Hill
“It’s now or never,” she said.
“Erin, no!” Mel’s grip was firm on her arm. “Let me. I’ll—”
“No! I’m expendable. You’re not.”
“Oh, my God! That is crazy!”
Erin pressed against her, kissing her hard, unmindful of who was watching. Yeah, it was crazy, she thought as she ducked into the branches, feeling them dig into her skin. She pushed through, finally falling on her knees, then her stomach as she crawled along the rain-soaked ground, squirming under the pine boughs. As she got closer to the house, she could see the damage up close. The first tree had pretty much demolished the living room; the roof and walls had collapsed around the tree. The second tree, the one she was crawling under, was teetering precariously along the roof of Rachel’s bedroom. Several large branches had broken through the roof and the windows were shattered. That was a plus, she supposed. At least she wouldn’t have to break the glass to get inside.
The problem, of course, was trying to crawl between the thick, wet branches to get to the window. She ignored the stabbing pain as a limb dug into her back when she stood. She was drenched and she wiped her face futilely as the rain turned into a torrential downpour. A bright flash of lightning and ensuing clap of thunder hit almost simultaneously, making her feel like she was in the center of the storm.
“Rachel!” she called through the wind and rain, pausing to listen for an answering call. Nothing came.
She squeezed between the branches, sliding up the wall to the window. She could no longer see Mel; the tree totally obscured her. A strong gust of wind rustled the tree and a branch slapped against her face. She closed her eyes for a second, trying to ignore the nearly constant rumble of thunder. The lightning was dangerous—she could almost feel the static charge in the air around her. She hoped Mel and the others had taken cover. But no, knowing Mel, she was still standing out in the storm, waiting for her to return.
“Now or never.”
She took a deep breath, then pulled herself up and through the broken window, taking care not to cut herself on the shattered glass. It was only slightly quieter inside. The wind whistled through the opened windows and rain poured in through the hole in the roof. As she looked around, she realized she was in the tiny spare bedroom, where she’d spent exactly one night. She tugged on the door but it wouldn’t budge. The tree’s weight was pressing on the rafters, putting pressure on the doorjamb. She slammed into it with her shoulder, but it still wouldn’t open.
“Oh, for the love,” she muttered. She leaned against the door, thinking. Rachel’s room was down the hallway to the left. A bathroom separated the two bedrooms.
She spun around and went back to the window. As she hopped back out, she noticed blood on the sill. She glanced at her hands, seeing tiny cuts on both palms. She dismissed them as she fell to her knees, trying to burrow her way under the tree again. Two thoughts struck her as she slid along on her belly; one, it smelled really, really fragrant up this close and personal with the wet ponderosa pine. And two, if she found Rachel, how would she ever get her out of the house? Rachel was eighty-two years old. Could she expect her to slither along the ground like she was doing, hoping like hell the tree didn’t collapse and smother her?
She found the bathroom window, broken like the others. She could go no farther, though. One thick limb, as big around as a tree itself, was blocking her path. As the storm raged, she thought she heard Mel calling to her. Between the thunder and lightning, the wind and rain, she couldn’t be certain. Perhaps it was only her imagination.
“I’m okay,” she yelled back, doubting Mel could hear her anyway.
She hugged the wall, reaching for the window. It was up higher than the bedroom window and after inspecting it for glass, she grabbed hold of the sill, needing all her strength to lift herself up. She balanced on her stomach across the sill, then fell inside to the floor. She looked up, thankful the roof was intact. Like the bedroom, the bathroom door frame had pressure on it from the roof and she struggled to open it. Unlike the bedroom, though, she did manage to open it far enough for her to squeeze through.
“Rachel?” she yelled in the hallway.
She looked right, into the main part of the house. The missing roof let in enough light for her to see the large mass of tree occupying the living room. To the left was Rachel’s bedroom. She took a step toward it, then heard the house creak and groan around her. Was the tree shifting?
“Rachel?” she yelled again as she hurried to her room.
The door was open and she gasped. A tree limb had come through the roof and had impaled the bed. She glanced around frantically, finally spying the edge of a pink nightgown sticking out behind the overturned dresser.
“Rachel!”
She dropped down on the floor, laying flat to look under the dresser, shocked to find two eyes blinking back at her.
“I’m…I’m stuck, I think,” came a quiet, frightened voice.
“Are you pinned? Is something on you? Your legs? Are you hurt?”
“I don’t think so. I’m against the wall. The dresser fell and…and now I’m stuck.” Her voice cracked then. “My house is falling around me.”
“I’m going to get you out of here. But first I’ve got to move the dresser.” She got into a kneeling position, surveying the situation. She wasn’t certain she could move the dresser by herself. At least, not back into its original position. She thought she might be able to push it over, onto the bed, and hoped there was enough room between the legs and wall to pull Rachel out. She lay back down, facing Rachel. “Can you move back a little? I’m going to push the dresser onto your bed.”
“Yes, I can move a little.”
“Okay. As soon as I push and get the legs up, I’m going to hold it. Can you crawl out then?”
“Yes, I can try.”
Erin was about to push when she felt the house shake around them. She looked up, seeing the roof starting to give way. The tree must have shifted or rolled.
“We’ve got to hurry, Rachel! No time to waste!”
She didn’t pause to consider an alternative. It was this or nothing. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the dresser with all her might, feeling it tip, lifting the back legs off the floor. She pressed against it, holding it in place.
“Now! Move now!” She couldn’t see behind her but sensed Rachel trying to get out. “Hurry!”
“My nightgown is caught on something!”
“Jesus,” she muttered. “Can you tear it? Or take the damn thing off!”
“Take it off?”
“Rachel…I can’t hold this forever.” Part of the ceiling gave way, landing on top of the dresser. She turned her head away from it. “Rachel! Move!”
She felt Rachel’s hand grab her ankle, as if for traction. In the chaos of the storm, the ceiling falling, the tree shifting…she heard the distinct sound of fabric ripping. Her arms were cramping, her fingers slipping on the damp wood. She glanced behind her, seeing Rachel now crawling on her knees, out of the way. She jumped back, letting the dresser fall back and it banged against the wall hard enough to gouge the sheetrock.
She reached down and pulled Rachel up, surprised that the older woman flung herself into her arms. Erin took the time to hold her for a few seconds, then gently pushed her away. Rachel’s face was stained with rain and tears.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
They barely made it into the hallway before the roof collapsed. She grabbed Rachel’s arm and ran, pulling her down the hall and into the demolished living room. As if in slow motion, sections of the roof gave way, dropping behind them as they moved. The sound was deafening and through it all, she could hear Rachel screaming. The house seemed to be collapsing around them and she didn’t know where to go. Could they make it over the fallen tree and onto the other side of the living room? That roof was already down. There was nothing more to fall on them there.
The massive tree, with its five-foot diameter trunk, blocked their escape. She ran up
to it, touching its side, wondering how they could scale it. She turned to Rachel.
“I’m going to lift you up. Fall to the other side. Cover your head.”
“Oh, Erin…I can’t. I—”
“You have to!”
She didn’t let her protest further. She stood behind her and grabbed her hips, only then noticing how small and frail she seemed. She hoisted her easily, nearly pushing her over the tree. Without thinking, she went back several feet, covering her head as sheetrock fell from the ceiling. She took a running start, bolting toward the tree, jumping at the last second. The rough bark cut into her hands and arms as she attempted to squirm over the top. Behind her, she heard a whoosh as the entire roof collapsed, the force pushing her over the tree and onto the floor beyond. She landed in a heap, her shoulder taking the brunt of her weight. Rachel was curled against the tree, her thin arms folded around her head, protecting herself from debris.
The second tree fell completely, obliterating what remained of Rachel’s little house. It was over as quickly as it had begun. She looked up, seeing dark clouds still swirling over them. Rain was falling in a steady stream, but the torrential downpour seemed to have subsided. She stood up and went to Rachel, gently taking her hand.
“I think we made it.”
Rachel met her gaze. “I don’t know how. There’s nothing left of my house.”
Erin smiled at her. “The most important thing is still here. You.”
Rachel smiled weakly at her. “I don’t even know what happened. I got tossed from my bed, then all hell broke loose.”
Erin laughed at that. “Yeah, it did. Come on.”
They headed toward the base of the tree, away from the cluster of branches. Even there, though, the lumber and debris from the walls and roof blocked their way. As she stood there, trying to decide what to do, she heard the voices, the screams…her name being called.
“Erin! Erin!”
“We’re here!” she yelled. “Living room.”
It seemed like they waited hours as the ladies—all seventy-something in age—and Melanie and Angela worked to clear a path for them; cutting the tree away and moving sections of wall and roof. Mel’s eyes met hers at every turn and Erin was itching to get to her, to hold her, to tell her she was okay. When the last section of wall was removed, Rachel gingerly made her way across the threshold of what was once her front door. Stella was there to greet Rachel, taking her into her arms in an affectionate hug.
Then Mel was there, arms wrapped around her tightly, whispered words that she couldn’t decipher, gentle lips meeting hers. Mel pulled back then, her eyes misting with tears.
“You’re a freakin’ crazy woman.”
“You’re right. That was crazy.”
“The tree fell. I thought—”
“I’m okay. We were like five seconds ahead of it,” she said with a smile. Yeah, she could laugh about it now. She was a crazy woman but they’d made it out alive.
Melanie turned her hands, inspecting them. The tiny cuts were no longer bleeding but they were red and raw.
“My hero.” Mel’s grip was gentle as she held her hand. “Let’s get you home, huh?”
“Yeah. Let’s go home.”
Chapter Forty-Two
“I’m not sure who is going to miss you more—me or the ladies,” she whispered when they finally had a second alone.
“Rebecca must have been a prosecutor in another life. She’s been grilling me.” Erin motioned to her plate. “What’s that?”
“I’m assuming she got the answer she was seeking, as if you kissing me in front of them wasn’t enough,” she teased. “This is eggplant. You want it? I’m done.”
“You don’t like it?”
“Very good, yes. But it’s fried. In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve had nothing fried at home. Well, other than our breakfast potatoes, but that’s more sautéed than fried.”
“Watching your waistline, are you?” Erin stabbed at the eggplant, scooping it onto her own plate. “I can vouch that there’s not an ounce of fat there,” she said with a wink.
“I’m more concerned with my heart health than my waistline, but thank you for the compliment.”
“Oh, Erin—I made that chocolate cake that you liked. Save room now,” Stella said, nearly beaming at Erin. They were all beaming at Erin. Her heroics with the tree was still being whispered about. “We’re all so glad you joined us again.” She led Erin to where the desserts were. “I trust Mel is taking care of you?” she asked, just loud enough for Melanie to hear.
She was certain she was blushing, and she turned away, only to find Angela watching.
“Oh, my! Is that a cute blush I see?” Angela laughed. “No need to be embarrassed, Mel. I think it’s wonderful.”
“Wonderful? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said lamely as she put her plate in the sink.
Angela linked arms with her as they went back into the living room. “Some of the ladies are positively jealous.”
“What does everyone think is going on?” she asked a bit hesitantly.
“Oh, don’t be coy, Mel. She’s cute. That kiss she gave you wasn’t exactly platonic. I guess it was bound to happen, what with you two living together like that.”
Melanie blew out her breath. What did she say to that? Did she deny it? And how in the world would they all know? Guessing or hoping?
“Has someone been spying on us?”
Angela leaned closer, her voice low. “Rumor has it that Stella caught you wearing each other’s clothes.”
“Oh, good Lord! How would she even know that?”
Angela laughed. “Erin was wearing your tree hugger T-shirt and you were wearing one she didn’t recognize…and it was inside out.”
Melanie grabbed the bridge of her nose, knowing her face was again covered in a red-hot blush. It wasn’t so much that everyone knew…it was that she didn’t want them talking about her, discussing it. Or worse…imagining it.
“So I’ve been the topic of gossip, huh?”
“Oh, Mel, these ladies haven’t had anything to coo about in years. Give them this. Everyone loves you. The fact that you’ve got a cute hottie living with you—and you’re wearing each other’s clothes—has been like a fantasy for them. Top that off with Erin rescuing Rachel and they’re all positively giddy!”
She nearly rolled her eyes. A cute hottie? What would Erin’s reaction be to that description? She would be amused, most likely.
“So you’re saying I shouldn’t try to hide it?”
“Bask in it.” Then Angela leaned closer. “You are having sex, right? Because, well, it’s kinda written all over your face.”
Another blush and a forced smile. “Okay. We can stop talking about it now.”
Angela surprised her by a hug. “I’m happy for you.”
“What? That I’m having sex?” Her smile faded. “She is leaving, you know.”
“Yes, she is. I think Stella is hoping you two fall madly in love and she’ll stay on. New blood, you know.”
“Well, I hate to bust her bubble, but no. She’s definitely leaving.”
Angela touched her arm. “So no falling madly in love? That’s too bad. From the looks you two were sharing, I thought it was more.”
“No. Sorry.”
“So just having a little fun, then?” Angela teased. “Nothing wrong with that. If I were in your shoes, I’d do the same thing.” She motioned to where Erin was surrounded by no less than five gray-haired ladies. “Rebecca is a hopeless romantic and wants all the details, but I think Dianne has a little crush on her.”
Melanie smiled. “Yes, I think so. When Dianne cut her hair, she was gushing over her.”
Erin must have felt them watching. She turned, meeting her gaze, then smiled before being pulled back into the conversation. Melanie let out the tiniest of sighs, then smiled almost apologetically at Angela.
“We’ve become good friends too. I’ll miss that, for sure.”
“Oh, I k
now what you mean. I miss having someone to talk to sometimes. You and I get along well enough, but even after all these years, we haven’t really nurtured a friendship.” Angela held her hand up quickly. “And I’m certainly not blaming you, Mel. It’s as much my fault. Even though we’re closest in age, I’m still twenty years older than you are. And we both enjoy our alone time, obviously. No one sees you except at these monthly gatherings, and I only see some of them because I live within walking distance of the main cluster.”
“Wish you picked a spot farther up the creek?”
“Sometimes, yes. If I’d known I was going to stay on, I’d have done like you did—built something. But at the time, this house was far enough away from the others that I felt secluded, especially after living in the city.”
“There was already a garden established at your house. That alone was worth it, I’d think. Even after seven years, I’m still digging up rocks when I till.”
Their conversation shifted to gardening, signaling an end to the brief personal tidbits they’d shared. Yes, they were probably both to blame for not working at their friendship more. Truth was, she never really missed having a close friend. Friends had been few in her life, close friends even rarer. Adam, that was it. And even then, she’d kept secrets from him, hadn’t she? Erin, really, was the only one she’d told all her secrets to. The good, the bad, even those things she was ashamed of and others that were better kept hidden… She’d told them all to Erin.
She nodded appropriately as Angela filled her in on the happenings around the tribe, the little bits of gossip that got passed on in casual conversation, like how Rachel was adjusting to living with Stella—and how Stella was adjusting. Sadly, they hadn’t been able to salvage much from Rachel’s house. From what Angela had heard, Rachel was still contemplating moving into one of the vacant houses—which would need some work to get it livable. Melanie kept her gaze on Erin, though, smiling as Erin smiled. Yes, she would miss her friendship. Miss her sharing her bed. Most of all, she’d miss the feeling she got—deep inside—when Erin’s eyes captured hers. That sickly sweet feeling that sent her stomach rolling and made her feel like a young girl.
